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Quebec floods: 400 troops help reinforce dike, pump out water in Pierrefonds

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Quebec floods: 400 troops reinforcing Pierrefonds dike
WATCH ABOVE: The Canadian military sent some 400 troops to help reinforce a dike in Pierrefonds, a Montreal borough hard hit by recent flooding. Global’s Matt Grillo reports – May 11, 2017

About 400 soldiers on the ground in Pierrefonds had their hands full on Thursday.

They spent hours reinforcing a dike near the water treatment plant.

After that was completed, more time was put towards pumping out water from nearby streets.

“This morning [around] seven, eight o’clock, people started getting on the ground. We were about 400 people working here,” said Pierre Leblanc, a public affairs officer with the Canadian military. “Now that other places are secure this became our priority.”

READ MORE: Quebec floods: Bail hearing held for Pierrefonds flood volunteer Alain Furlano

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Less than a week ago, three dikes broke in Pierrefonds causing flooding.

Most residences in the area have been evacuated, but some people have returned to their homes to comb through the damage.

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READ MORE: Quebec floods: Pierrefonds family welcomes victims into their home

For residents of Dauville Street, seeing soldiers in their community was a welcome sight.

“For us, they came in and all this big stuff – they helped me move it out,” said Roy Pretty, a Pierrefonds resident. “It was a good help for me because I couldn’t do it by myself.”

Leblanc said Thursday’s goal was to seal the area protected by the dike and then pump out water into the nearby Rivière des Prairies.

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